Questions I can’t answer

How did you ever discover mashed celery root?

I made this dish years ago because I was looking for a potato alternative. Why? Who the heck knows!

What if I don’t like celery?

Just recently, I was on the phone with my friend Devon while I was cooking for the blog and one of the dishes I was making was this one. She asked me what I was doing and when I told her, she said – slowly – “C e l e r y r o o t?”

Devon hates, hates, HATES celery in all its forms!! Of course, I said to her what one always says to children when they don’t like a certain food: “It doesn’t even taste like celery!”

She didn’t believe me.

I don’t blame her, because it smells like celery when you are peeling it and cutting it up.

So, now I’m wondering what someone who hates celery, like Devon, would think if she were coerced to taste it. (Read: tied down and force fed it!)

Does mashed celery root taste like mashed potatoes?

No. It does have a taste to it, but is it a celery taste? I don’t think so, I really don’t. (Christopher does. But what does he know?) It does have a similar texture and mouth feel to mashed potatoes, though a little bit chunkier.

Have you ever had mashed celery root? What do you think? Would you compare it to mashed potatoes? Leave me a comment and let me know if you think it tastes like celery.

How to Cook Mashed Celery Root

Celery root is not a pretty vegetable. I’m not going to sugar coat it. It looks like something that would be in a Pixar film. Any minute now, those knobs will open up and become eyes. Can’t you just picture it?

Process shots for the mashed celery root recipe:

Celery root, butter, light cream, salt and pepper

Peeled celery root (aka Pixar root)

Cut up root in a pan of water. Warning: celery root is sort of knobby inside the vegetable as well as outside, so don’t be surprised to see that when you cut them up. Turn heat on medium, bring the root to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for 25 – 30 minutes

Drain celery root and add butter, cream, salt and pepper

Tips for making mashed celery root:

Use a heavy duty peeler because this root is tough and knobby

Stick a fork into a piece at 30 minutes to test it, the same as you would for boiling potatoes. Keep checking the celery root in five-minute increments until it’s as soft as you want it